10 Facts about Archie Roach

Let me show you the interesting Facts about Archie Roach if you want to know the famous Australian musician. He was born on 8 January 1956. This man is famous as a guitarist, songwriter and singer. His powerful voice is very successful to bring the indigenous Australian in the world. He is one of the respected artists who tell the stories of his tradition. Here are other facts about Archie Roach below:

Facts about Archie Roach 1: Took the Children Away

One of Roach’s songs is Took the Children Away. In 2013, this song was included in the National Film and Sound Archive’s Sounds of Australia registry.

Facts about Archie Roach 2: the awards

There is no need to wonder that Roach has a lot of awards. He was the winner of Album of the Year and Deadly Award for Lifetime Contribution to Healing the Stolen Generation.

Archie Roach Facts

Facts about Archie Roach 3: the early life

Let’s find out the early life of Roach in 1956. The family of Roach and the rest of the people in his neighborhood were relocated on Rumbalara mission. Then he and his family went to Framlingham. Get facts about Aboriginal culture here.

Facts about Archie Roach 4: an orphanage

Roach, his sisters and other indigenous Australian children were separated from their family. All of them were located in an orphanage by the Australian government agencies.

Archie Roach Photo

Facts about Archie Roach 5: the placements

Before he was fostered by the Coxes, Roach had to live with two distasteful placements in the foster care. The Coxes was a family lived in Melbourne. They were the Scottish immigrants. Roach learned the basic instruments of guitar and keyboard after Mary the eldest daughter of Coxes introduced and taught him.

Facts about Archie Roach 6: inspiration

Roach then was deeply inspired by the songs of Nat King Cole, The Ink Spots, Billie Holiday and the Drifters after he checked the record collection of his father.

Archie Roach Pic

Facts about Archie Roach 7: a letter from his older sister

A letter from his older sister affected him a lot since it made him take the decision to leave his foster home. He left the house and only carried his guitar. He went to Sydney and Adelaide. He tried to find his natural family and lived on the street after he left his foster family.

Facts about Archie Roach 8: Ruby Hunter

Ruby Hunter was his soul mate and lifelong partner. Both got married and care for the teenage aborigines who lived on the street.

Archie Roach

Facts about Archie Roach 9: the Altogethers

The Altogethers was a band that Hunter and Roach formed in the late of 1980s with the indigenous Australians. Find out facts about Aboriginal Music here.

Facts about Archie Roach 10: death

The wife of Roach passed away at the age of 54 on 17 February 2010. Roach had stroke on 14 October 2010. But he is able to return to music.